VA Education Benefits

VA Education Benefits and Application Process

Post-9/11 GI Bill® Chapter 33

The Post-9/11 GI Bill® provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service after September 10, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. The Post 9/11 GI Bill® offers up to 36 months of education benefits. Click here for more information on the Post 9/11 GI Bill®.

Application Process
To apply for the Post 9/11 GI Bill®, complete the following steps:

Create a VA account through ID.me or Login.gov.
Log into your account and complete the appropriate application:
VA Form 22-1990 – If you are applying for VA benefits for the first time.
VA Form 22-1995 – If you have used your benefits at another institution and would like to transfer to Washington University of Science and Technology as your primary institution, or if it has been over a year since your last certification.
VA Form 22–1990E – If you are applying for a Transferred Education Benefit for the first time.
VA Form 22-1995E – If you have used your Transferred Education Benefit at another institution and would like to transfer to Washington University of Science and Technology as your primary institution, or if it has been over a year since your last certification.
Once the application has been submitted, the VA will send you a Certificate of Eligibility. The Certificate of Eligibility is sent via postal mail services and could take up to 8 weeks for receipt.

Using Your Post-9/11 GI Bill® Benefits at WUST

To begin using your Post 9/11 GI Bill® at Washington University of Science and Technology, please submit the following forms to va@wust.edu:

1. Certificate of Eligibility (COE)

You may submit a copy of your Statement of Benefits if you do not have a Certificate of Eligibility (COE).
Since the Post 9/11 GI Bill® has tiered percentages of eligibility based upon the length of service, if you are unable to submit a COE or Statement of Benefits, please submit the following to va@wust.edu.
Veterans – Copy of your DD214 showing your Character of Service.
Active-duty service members – Submit a copy of your most recent end-of-month LES.

Transferred Education Benefit

Using transferred education benefits is a multi-step process.

Please ensure your sponsor has successfully transferred months of benefits through MilConnect. Get more information about transferring Post 9/1/ GI Bill® benefits.

Once benefits have been transferred, follow the instructions above to apply and use your TEB at Washington University of Science and Technology.

Yellow Ribbon Program

Washington University of Science and Technology is a proud participant of the Yellow Ribbon Program. The Yellow Ribbon Program aids in funding tuition and fees for students who are 100% covered by the Post 9/11 GI Bill® so long as a student has remaining entitlement available.

Because Yellow Ribbon is a form of Washington University of Science and Technology institutional aid, it cannot be combined with any other Washington University of Science and Technology tuition assistance or discounts. Yellow Ribbon is not an extension of entitlement.

Yellow Ribbon Program

To apply for the Montgomery GI Bill®, complete the following steps:

Create a VA account through ID.me or Login.gov.
Log into your account and complete the appropriate application:
VA Form 22-1990 – If you are applying for VA benefits for the first time.
VA Form 22-1995 – If you have used your benefits at another institution and would like to transfer to Washington University of Science and Technology as your primary institution, or if it has been over a year since your last certification.
Once the application has been submitted, the VA will send you a Certificate of Eligibility. The Certificate of Eligibility is sent via postal mail services and could take up to 8 weeks for receipt.

Montgomery GI Bill® Chapter 30

The Montgomery GI Bill® (MGIB) is available for those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. MGIB offers benefits to both active duty under Chapter 30 and reservists under Chapter 1606. The MGIB offers up to 36 months of education benefits.

Using Your Montgomery GI Bill® Benefits at WUST

To begin using your Montgomery GI Bill® at Washington University of Science and Technology, please submit the following forms to va@wust.edu:

Certificate of Eligibility (COE)

The Survivors’ & Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program Chapter 35

The Survivors’ & Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program (DEA) provides assistance to dependents of military service members with a service-connected disability, are considered POW or MIA, or who suffered a service-connected death. The DEA program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. Click here for more information on DEA.

Application Process

To apply for the Survivor’s & Dependents’ Educational Assistance program, complete the following steps:

Create a VA account through ID.me or Login.gov.
Log into your account and complete the appropriate application:

VA Form 22-5490 - If you are applying for VA Benefits for the first time.
VA Form 22-5495 - If you have used your benefits at another institution and would like to transfer to Washington University of Science and Technology as your primary institution, or if it has been over a year since your last certification.

Once the application has been submitted, the VA will send you a Certificate of Eligibility. The Certificate of Eligibility is sent via postal mail services and could take up to 8 weeks for receipt.

Using Your DEA Benefits at WUST

To begin using your Survivors’ & Dependent’s Educational Assistance Program benefits at Washington University of Science and Technology, please submit the following forms to va@wust.edu:

Certificate of Eligibility (COE)

We will still process your DEA benefits if you have not received your COE. Please submit a copy once you have received the COE for our records.

Students utilizing DEA at Regent University will be paid directly by the VA monthly.

Veteran Readiness & Employment Program (VR&E) Chapter 31

The Veteran Readiness & Employment Program (VR&E) assists veterans with service-connected disabilities in preparing for, finding, and maintaining suitable jobs. Entitlement for VR&E is calculated based on months of benefits used under other educational benefits. Click here for more information on VR&E.

Application Process

To apply for Veteran Readiness & Employment Program, complete the following steps:

1. Create a VA account through ID.me or Login.gov.
2. Log into your account and complete the online application:

VA Form 22-1900

You may also complete this application by mail, in person at a VA regional office near you, or with the help of an accredited representative.

Once the application has been submitted, the VA will assign you a VA counselor who you will work directly with to complete the process. If you are disapproved or disagree with the decision, you may submit a request for an appeal.

Using Your VR&E Benefits at WUST

To begin using your Veteran Readiness & Employment benefits at Washington University of Science and Technology, your counselor must issue an authorization, also known as a purchase order through Tungsten using the information below:

Washington University of Science and Technology’s Tax ID
Washington University of Science and Technology’s Facility Code
Email: va@wust.edu

The authorization must list the correct program and dates for which tuition and fees will be covered under VR&E. We will only invoice for tuition and fees directly associated with required courses taken at Washington University of Science and Technology for the dates authorized by your counselor.

Academic Worksheet & Degree Plan

Before approving your degree program for VR&E funding, your counselor may request an academic worksheet and degree plan.

Please submit all requests regarding academic worksheets and degree plans to academic@wust.edu.

We encourage you to submit the request at least 30 days before the start of your intended term to allow ample time for review and to complete the request properly.

Military Resources For Benefits

Enrollment Status for VA Benefits

The Veteran Affairs (VA) training times indicated below are for individual enrollment periods only. Each session must be considered individually and cannot be combined with other enrollment periods for the assignment of a training time.

These training times are designed for VA educational benefits only and should not be used to calculate course loads for financial aid or outside scholarships.

For all other purposes such as confirmation of enrollments for lenders or insurance companies, enrollment status is determined by the entire quarter not by individual enrollment periods.

Students using VA Benefits will be paid a Military Housing Allowance, subsistence allowances, and education allowances based on their enrollment status. To learn more about training time and how your registration affects your payments, please see tables below.

Washington University of Science and Technology has a quarter system with 10 weeks per quarter. There are four quarters in an academy year, and they are called Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall Quarters. For more information please refer to the academic calendar in the University Catalog.

Full-time Enrollment: Undergraduate students registered for 13.5 or more credit hours (3 courses) per quarter and graduate students registered for nine (9) or more credit hours (2 courses) per quarter are considered full-time students.

Part-Time Enrollment: All students who do not meet the criteria for full-time students (i.e., who enroll for less than the minimum number of credit hours per quarter as prescribed above) are considered part-time students.

VA Pay Rates

Interested in knowing how much you will receive from the VA while using educational benefits? Explore the VA’s Rate Tables and select your education benefit for information on past, current, and future pay rates.

You may also use the GI Bill® Comparison Tool to estimate the amount you will receive while attending Washington University of Science and Technology.

You may change your VA direct deposit information here.

How do I apply for a Social Security number (SSN)?

Once you receive your I-20 with CPT authorization, you can apply for a SNN. You must do so directly with the Social Security Administration. You will be required to gather the required documents and visit a Social Security office in person near you.
What do I do if my CPT ends early?

If your CPT employment ends early, you must notify the International Students Office of your last date of employment by completing this CPT End Date Form in order to update your SEVIS record and have a new I-20 issued.
Will working on CPT impact my OPT application?

Students can participate in unlimited part-time CPT (20 hours per week or less) with no consequences. However, there is a limit on how much full-time CPT a student can participate in. If a student does 12 months or more of full-time CPT over the course of their program, they will lose their eligibility to participate in post-completion OPT. We recommend limiting your full-time CPT to less than 12 months if you plan to apply for OPT. If you do not plan to apply for OPT, you can participate in full-time CPT for any amount of time as long as you are eligible.
Can I change employers on CPT?

Yes, you can apply to change employers at any time while on CPT. Your new job must still be directly related to your major area of study. You must submit a new CPT application and pay the $75 fee. You cannot begin your new job until you receive an updated I-20 with the new CPT authorization on it. Nor can you begin before the start date on the I-20.
How long will it take to process my CPT application?

CPT applications typically take 1-2 weeks to process. An exact processing time cannot be given because some of the processing steps are outside of the university’s control. You can speed up the process by ensuring your employer responds to the employment verification email, and by paying your CPT fee once it is added to your Populi account.
Can I extend my CPT authorization?

Yes, you can extend your CPT authorization. You must submit a new CPT application. If you are continuing with the same employer, you should submit an employment verification letter instead of your original job offer letter. If you are changing employers, use your new offer letter.
How do I find a job so I can apply for CPT?

If you need help or advice on finding a job, please contact the Career Service Center.
Does my employer have to sponsor me to work in the U.S.?

No, your employer does not need to sponsor you in order for you to work on CPT. The university is authorized by USCIS to grant CPT authorization to eligible students. All you need is an I-20 with CPT authorization.
Can I have more than one job on CPT?

It is possible to have 2 part-time jobs while on CPT. Both jobs must be related to your major area of study. It is important to note that USCIS will consider having 2 part-time jobs at the same time as full-time employment.
Where can I work?

Your work location must be within a commutable distance from the university. Or the position must be remote.
Can I be excused from classes if I have to work that day?

No. Employment obligations cannot be used to excuse you from class. Your number one priority as an F-1 student is to be a student. You are fully expected to attend all of your classes, whether on campus or online, and to keep up with your course work. If you are unable to do so, your CPT authorization may be revoked.
I was offered on-campus employment. Do I need to apply for CPT?

Student workers hired for 20 hours per week or less do not need to apply for CPT. In these circumstances, the employment does not need to be related to your degree program. Student workers hired for more than 20 hours per week must apply for full-time CPT. The duties and responsibilities of the position must be directly related to your major area of study.
Can I apply for OPT while I am working on CPT?

Yes. You can submit your OPT application in your final quarter. However, once you submit your OPT application, you will not be allowed to extend your CPT or change your employer. Doing so could jeopardize your OPT application with USCIS.
Do I need to keep my CPT I-20?

Yes. You should keep all I-20s for your records. WUST does not keep I-20s on file for an extended period of time.
I have more questions about CPT. Who can I talk to?

If you have more questions about CPT, please contact iso@wust.edu. CPT applications should be submitted by the beginning of the quarter you are applying for. It is best to apply at least 1-2 weeks prior to your projected start date.